Manufacturing method for a golf club head

ABSTRACT

A manufacturing method for a golf club head is disclosed. The golf club head is composed of a body and a reinforced plate secured to the body at a sweet spot of the golf club head. The reinforced plate is embedded in the body by friction welding. Whereby, the reinforced plate is securely integrated with the body and the head has a long term of use life.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention is related to a golf club head, and more particularly to a manufacturing method for the golf club head.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] A golf club has a hard head to strike balls. Referring to FIG. 6, a conventional golf club head is manufactured in two parts, a body (30) and a strike panel (40) received in the body (30), in order to maximize both efficiency in production cost and effective impact against a golf ball. The body is manufactured by means of casting or forging a low grade steel, and has a recess (31) defined therein. The strike panel (40) is usually made from a harder and thus more expensive metal than the head (30), and the strike panel (40) is secured in the recess (31) by means of fusion processes such as soldering, brazing, and welding. However, the panel (40) often separates from the head (30) because the head (30), the panel (40) and the solder for fusion process have difference coefficient rates of expansion. For example, if a golfer enjoys playing in chilly weather, the club head could be exposed to temperatures as low as 5 degrees Celsius, but the same type club head could be used in a temperature of 35 degrees Celsius. Moreover, in welding, it is difficult to completely eliminate cracks, voids or gaps from developing in welded points, so these shortcomings also can result in the panel (40) separating from the head (30).

[0005] Therefore, the invention provides a golf club head manufactured by means of friction welding to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The main objective of the invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a golf club head of which a strike area is securely formed thereon.

[0007] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf club head in accordance with the invention;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a process of manufacturing the golf club head;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a first step of welding a reinforced plate on a body;

[0011]FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a second step of the welding;

[0012]FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a third step of the welding; and

[0013]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional golf club head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014] Referring to FIG. 1, a golf club head in accordance with the invention is composed of a body (20), and a reinforced plate (10) integrated with the body (20) at a sweet spot (21) which is the best point for a golf player to strike a ball. The reinforced plate (10) is formed with the body (20) by friction welding.

[0015] Referring to FIGS. 2-5, the golf club head is made by the following process:

[0016] a. Making the reinforced plate (10) and the body (20) respectively

[0017] The reinforced plate (10) and the body (20) are made by casting or forging, wherein the major component of the reinforced plate (10) is the same metal as that of the body (20), but the reinforced plate (10) is of an increased hardness in respect to the body (20).

[0018] b. Friction welding

[0019] The reinforced plate (10) and the body (20) are respectively secured by clamps, and the reinforced plate (10) is aligned with the sweet spot (21) of the body (20). The reinforced plate (10) is turned with a high rotate speed of 3000 RPM (Revolutions Per Minute) to 20000 RPM and has a vertical pressure (P) exerted thereon, as shown in FIG. 3. When the reinforced plate (10) touches the body (20), there is high speed frication to melt the interface areas between the reinforced plate (10) and the body (20). Under the vertical pressure (P), the reinforced plate (10) is embedded in the body (20) and integrated with the body (20). At the same time, burrs (200) are formed around the reinforced plate (10) due to the fit between the reinforced plate (10) and the body (20), as shown in FIG. 4.

[0020] c. Finishing

[0021] The burrs (200) and the part of reinforced plate (10) protruded from the body (20) are removed by cutting tools to form a smooth surface on the head, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0022] From the above description, it is noted that the invention has the following advantages:

[0023] 1. Because the reinforced plate (10) and the body (20) have the same major component of metal, they have substantial same expansion or contraction when the air temperature varies, so the reinforced plate (10) is does not separate from the body (20) in temperature change.

[0024] 2. Because the reinforced plate (10) is embedded in the body (20) by friction welding without solder, there are no cracks, voids or gaps between the reinforced plate (10) and the body (20) otherwise occurring from cooling of the solder etc.

[0025] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A manufacturing method for a golf club head comprising steps: making a body (20) and a reinforced plate (10) by casting or forging, wherein a major component of the reinforced plate (10) is the same metal as that of the body (20), but the reinforced plate (10) is harder than the body (20); friction welding the reinforced plate (10) on the body (20) at a sweet spot (21), wherein the body is fixed steady and the reinforced plate (10) is turned with a high rotation speed and has a vertical pressure (P) exerted thereon, and when the reinforced plate (10) touches the body (20), friction occurring from the rotation of the reinforced plate against the fixed steady body and the vertical pressure (P) melts interface areas of the reinforced plate (10) and the body (20), and the reinforced plate (10) is securely embedded in the body (20) and has burrs (200) formed therearound; and finishing the head by removing the burrs (200) and the part of the reinforced plate (10) protruded from the body (20).
 2. The manufacturing method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotational speed of the reinforced plate (10) is 3000 RPM to 20000 RPM.
 3. A golf club head comprising: a body (20); and a reinforced plate (10) integrated with the body (20) at a sweet spot (21) by means of friction welding. 